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Batman/Bruce Wayne ([info]thedarkknight) wrote in [info]dc_heroes,
@ 2010-11-20 20:56:00


Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:bruce wayne, carol ferris

The Deal
After his meeting with Clark, the anger he felt faded more into irritation as he left the new restaurant he'd just bought. Sure, it wasn't anything like DelMonico's, here in Star City, but it would certain be a top destination once his people finished booking the celebrity chef that Bruce had in mind. He pushed that thought aside as he looked at Carol Ferris, his lips spreading into an automatic grin as he greeted her.

"Carol, you look lovely, as always." Bruce says, taking her hand and giving it a light kiss. It was petty of him to think it, but he wished that Jordan was here right now. Bruce would have loved to watch the man squirm.

As he sat down, he received a text message from the man he was having trail Carol while he was in town.

Ferris, lunch with Wayne. 2:20 pm. -C

At that moment, Bruce Wayne chose to live up to his reputation as an utter klutz and expertly made a show of putting his phone away, only to have it miss his pocket and go sailing towards a table off to their left. Bruce, of course, "tries" to catch the phone, only to have it land at just under the chair of the woman sitting at the table, who is also checking her own phone and does not see it coming. He immediately kneels down to pick up his phone, an "Excuse Me" leaving his lips shortly before he ducks down.

The woman either isn't paying attention or doesn't care. When she notices that he's reaching under her chair, and his proximity to her, she scoots away from her table, a cry of surprise coming from her lips. Bruce immediately stands, pointing at the floor, trying to stammer out an apology and...reading the text message on her phone just before it goes dark.

Ferris, lunch with Wayne. 2:20 pm. -C

And now he has confirmation of exactly what he needed to know, because he knows who this woman is, despite the wig and makeup job she's using to conceal it.

"PERVERT!" the woman yells, throwing her glass of water in his face. The chill liquid hits Bruce full on, which leaves him "unprepared" for the slap across the face that comes next. It stings like hell, but he has to play along, and falls back a couple of steps in surprise.

"Miss, I'm sorry! That's not what it looked like!" Bruce says meekly, in his defense.

Ten minutes later, Bruce and Carol are re-seated in another part of the restaurant, after the woman raised enough hell and was asked to leave by the manager. Sure, TMZ got another bit of tarnish to rub on Bruce Wayne's image, but it was worth it to have one of Luthor's flunkies thrown out and confirm that Lex was having Carol watched by the same man Bruce himself had hired.

"Now that I've made an ass of myself , Carol, I hope you'll consider still doing business with Wayne Aeronautics and the Government. I provide good entertainment, if nothing else." Bruce offers with a self-deprecating smile. 

 

 




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[info]ferris_ceo
2010-11-21 04:20 am UTC (link)
Carol grinned in genuine amusement and offered a handkerchief from her purse for him to mop the water from his face. "I hate to ask what you do for encores. I never expected to hear the word pervert yelled in this restaurant. Letch, yes. You Bastard, of course. Not /pervert/. That takes me back to junior high school."

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[info]thedarkknight
2010-11-21 04:27 am UTC (link)
"Hey, it shocked me more than the water /and/ the slap to the face. I've been called the first two several times, but /never/ a pervert. It was a new one on me." Bruce says.

"How have you been? How is work?" he asks.

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[info]ferris_ceo
2010-11-21 04:49 am UTC (link)
"Life has been exceptionally good for me lately. Business, too. Dare I hope that Ferris Air is getting the contract?" All kidding aside, she wanted to hear it in plain English, then read it in convoluted legalese in a contract."

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[info]thedarkknight
2010-11-21 05:08 am UTC (link)
"Well, that's why I'm here." Bruce smiles. "Defense Secretary Gates wanted to call you, but I told him I'd rather deliver the news so I could fly out here and talk to you about that and another business venture I have in mind.

Yes, Ferris Air is getting the contact, Carol. Your operation might be smaller than LexAir, but Ferris Air also hasn't been cited for any violations of FAA regulations or unethical business practices as the new LuthorCorp is under investigation for." Bruce tells her.

"I have reason to believe that charity event we attended a few months ago had its funds siphoned off by a shell company owned by LuthorCorp. I can't /prove/ it, but I've had the matter investigated thoroughly." Bruce says.

"But I thought taking you out for lunch would be the best way to tell you." he smiles.

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[info]ferris_ceo
2010-11-21 05:18 am UTC (link)
Carol sighed in satisfaction. It felt good to get the contract. She wanted to celebrate.

"We're quite a bit smaller than LexAir, but I think I have the best pilots." She smiled. "I like your way of breaking the good news to me. I'm always happy to have lunch with a new business contact." She picked up the water glass and toasted him with it. "I wish I could say I'm surprised about the charity event, but LuthorCorp is a red flag for all of us."

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[info]thedarkknight
2010-11-21 05:40 am UTC (link)
"I agree. Lex wasn't happy about the Government not doing business with him on this one, but he thinks that being the former U.S. President somehow erases all of the things he's under investigation for." Bruce says.

"I've also got a couple of other propositions for you, Carol, if you're interested in hearing them." he says.

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[info]ferris_ceo
2010-11-21 05:53 am UTC (link)
She eyed him over her water glass. She'd made it very clear on their last encounter that she was not going to be a conquest for his playboy image, so she had no worries about that. If he needed a reminder, she was wearing high heels capable of nice bit of damage.

"Tell me all about them, Bruce. I'm always on the lookout for Ferris Air's best interests."

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[info]thedarkknight
2010-11-21 06:18 am UTC (link)
"Well, I just purchased a restaurant here in Coast City and I could use a partner in the endeavor. I'm not here often, but you are and you've got good taste. I'm trying to hire a celebrity chef to attach his name to the place, but it's a family restaurant, though it's a little more upscale." Bruce says.

"Wayne Aeronautics is also developing a few new helicopters for medical services and I'd like it to be a joint venture with Ferris Air. I really think you should expand your company and brand, Carol. You've definitely got what it takes to branch out and make some other serious moves in the business world, if that's what you'd like to do." he says.

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[info]ferris_ceo
2010-11-21 06:35 am UTC (link)
The restaurant...well, that would take some consideration. It was outside her original business plans, though she wouldn't dismiss it out of hand. The last few years were long and hard going to build her business and keep it in the black.

The helicopters were another matter altogether. Successful, it would be marketable everywhere and a nice public relations coup.

"There is a lot of sense in what you say, even the flattery. I have excellent taste." She smiled. Her heart was Hal's, but she wasn't immune to a bit of Wayne charm. As long as it was in public. "I haven't given much thought into expanding beyond Ferris Air, but I'm willing to take a look at the prospectus. Which chef are you pursuing?"

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[info]thedarkknight
2010-11-21 06:01 pm UTC (link)
"Currently, I'm trying to choose between Bobby Flay, Wolfgang Puck and Gordon Ramsey. All of them all well-known personalities and have extensive resumes. I think this venture could be a powerhouse if choose the right one." Bruce says, taking a sip of his water.

"Wouldn't it be great to walk into a restaurant and get seated immediately because own the place? Never having to make reservations no matter how many people you bring? Come on, Carol, I know you like the idea." Bruce grins.

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[info]ferris_ceo
2010-11-21 09:22 pm UTC (link)
"Now you're pandering to my vanity," she accused with a laugh. She could just imagine Hal arguing with Gordon Ramsey. "It might be good for me to get my head out of the clouds, so to speak."

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[info]thedarkknight
2010-11-21 10:20 pm UTC (link)
"Diversity is always a good thing, Carol. So is that billion-dollar smile of yours." Bruce says, chuckling along with her.

"If you were to get involved in this venture, can you think of anyone who might be a worthy investment? Or...should we try something different and make it a celebrity chef restaurant and have a couple of chefs attached to it so you never know who's going to be there?" he asks.

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[info]ferris_ceo
2010-11-21 10:25 pm UTC (link)
The billion-dollar smile widened.

"There is a cachet to having a celebrity chef's name attached to your restaurant, but there's also something to be said for creating a celebrity chef. Your name alone could elevate up-and-coming chefs to celebrity status if you featured their food. Even if they stayed only a year, the publicity would bring the world to their table."

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[info]thedarkknight
2010-11-21 10:39 pm UTC (link)
"People /are/ seeking work right now and while it would be nice to have, say, Gordon Ramsay's name attached to things, there is something to be said for having the man or woman trained by Gordon Ramsey or Bobby Flay in residence." Bruce agrees, seeming to think it over in his head.

"One of the few nice things people say about me is that I seem to know my food and drink." Bruce says, allowing for a self-deprecating smile.

"I want Coast City to become an even bigger tourist destination than in previous times, Carol. This city has come back from the worst place a city could be in and it's starting to thrive again. I want to help with that, just like Wayne Enterprises tries to help Gotham City in various ways. Who better to work with than one of Coast City's premiere businesswomen and residents." he says.

"Is this something you'd think about exploring further?" he asks.

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[info]ferris_ceo
2010-11-21 11:12 pm UTC (link)
"Coast City has been through a lot. I've been offered tax breaks and considerations if I moved my business elsewhere, but I'm really a homebody. This is where Ferris Air started and it's where it'll stay until there is no more Coast City."

Carol leaned back in her chair and gave Bruce a considering look. "They say you know expensive food and drink, not if it's actually worth the money. I'm not opposed to letting a talented nobody prove themselves. The city could easily become a foodie heaven as well as cater to families and other businesses."

"This is definitely something I'd want to explore. Count me in."

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[info]thedarkknight
2010-11-21 11:34 pm UTC (link)
"Good to hear, Carol. I'm glad we can continue working together professionally." Bruce says, wondering exactly why a woman like this would waste her time on someone like Hal Jordan.

The guy had to be a snake-oil salesman. It was the only reason he could think of that made any sense.

"I'll have my people get in touch with you on design information and then we can discuss some candidates." Bruce offers as the waiter comes to take their orders.

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[info]ferris_ceo
2010-11-21 11:45 pm UTC (link)
Carol took a notepad from her bag. Her entire life was in the notepad.

"If you and Wayne Industries wouldn't mind something of a detour, perhaps your people will look at a few of the older buildings still standing and see if they're structurally sound enough for renovation. I'll have a file of ideas for them ready when they come calling." She'd have liked to say 'have your people contact my people' just like in the movies, but she was 'her people'. She'd either have to hire another assistant, clone herself, or give up sleeping for good.

Refusing was out of the question. To have some small part of bringing Coast City back and making it better, and making a profit from it, was worth it.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)


[info]thedarkknight
2010-11-22 12:54 am UTC (link)
"Already ahead of you, Carol, but I'd like to take a look at your list and see if there are any I've missed. Wayne Enterprises was started in the real estate and land management business, and the Martha Wayne Foundation has been looking into opening a few shelters and soup kitchens both here and in Star City." Bruce tells her.

"My mother was very fond of helping the less fortunate get into better circumstances, and I've tried to emulate that in my own dealings. Coast City is on the road back to prosperity; Gotham lived through something like that in the past as well, and there's still a lot of work to be done.

So, in short, yes, I'd love to look into helping out more around here." Bruce says.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)


[info]ferris_ceo
2010-11-22 01:11 am UTC (link)
"Telling a fish how to swim, as my father would say." She wasn't bothered by him ahead of her. It was his idea, after all, and sometimes she had to say it aloud in a sequence to think it through. "I'll certainly help your foundation find places to be useful here."

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[info]thedarkknight
2010-11-22 03:01 am UTC (link)
"I appreciate it. Coast City is a nice place to visit." Bruce says. "I'd live here if I didn't love Gotham so much."

He smiles at Carol, as well as the double-meaning of his statement.

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[info]ferris_ceo
2010-11-22 03:18 am UTC (link)
Carol watched him for a moment. It appeared to be the first, genuine, normal comment from him during the their meeting.

"How is Gotham these days?"

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[info]thedarkknight
2010-11-22 03:46 am UTC (link)
"I wish I could say it's not like the news says it is, but the news makes it seem /better/ in some ways. Yes, there are problems and things that are wrong, but I'm not willing to write Gotham off. Ever.

I think people just need an example to live up to, someone to show them that things /can/ be better, if they'll work for it." Bruce says, finding that Carol's question has actually reached something inside of him that isn't part of his playboy persona.

"My family has lived in Gotham since it was just a hole in the dirt. My fortune came from Gotham and my family never once gave up on Gotham, despite all the pain and hurt they saw.

And even though some punk with a gun took my parents from me, I don't blame the city for that. I blame the corruption and the complacency of the government." Bruce says.

"But I'll never give give up on Gotham, Carol. I can't, even if it turns out to be the end of me." he finishes.

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[info]ferris_ceo
2010-11-22 04:01 am UTC (link)
"That's the important thing," Carol answered quietly. "Not to give up, even if it takes everything you have to give."

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[info]thedarkknight
2010-11-22 04:06 am UTC (link)
"Yes, that and never compromising yourself to make sure that your dream, whatever it is, comes to pass." Bruce says, just as quietly.

"But, I'm sure you already know that, Carol. You seem like a woman who knows what she wants and goes for it with everything she's got."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

(no subject) - [info]ferris_ceo, 2010-11-22 04:11 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]thedarkknight, 2010-11-22 04:18 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]ferris_ceo, 2010-11-22 04:24 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]thedarkknight, 2010-11-22 04:41 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]ferris_ceo, 2010-11-22 04:47 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]thedarkknight, 2010-11-22 05:56 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]ferris_ceo, 2010-11-22 06:13 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]thedarkknight, 2010-11-22 07:06 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]ferris_ceo, 2010-11-22 07:12 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]thedarkknight, 2010-11-22 07:59 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]ferris_ceo, 2010-11-22 06:13 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]thedarkknight, 2010-11-23 03:28 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]ferris_ceo, 2010-11-23 05:31 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]thedarkknight, 2010-11-23 05:47 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]ferris_ceo, 2010-11-23 06:25 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]thedarkknight, 2010-11-23 08:37 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]ferris_ceo, 2010-11-23 10:38 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]thedarkknight, 2010-11-23 10:55 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]ferris_ceo, 2010-11-24 01:24 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]thedarkknight, 2010-11-24 02:43 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]ferris_ceo, 2010-11-24 05:08 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]thedarkknight, 2010-11-25 01:49 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]ferris_ceo, 2010-11-26 10:15 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]thedarkknight, 2010-11-27 03:55 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]ferris_ceo, 2010-11-27 06:03 am UTC
(no subject) - [info]thedarkknight, 2010-11-27 06:19 am UTC

[info]hell_blazer
2010-12-03 02:55 am UTC (link)
-(END)-

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